What do you think?
Rate this book
The Player Next Door
Logan Walsh doesn't do relationships.
Clare Thompson doesn't do casual.
What could possibly bring them together?
Finance bro Logan and tabletop game designer Clare couldn't be more different. They know this because their apartments face each other, and they've noticed. But not, you know, in a creepy way.
Still, when they get stuck in the elevator together, sparks fly and they each see an opportunity: Clare needs her co-workers to believe that she is capable of a one-night stand to get them to buy into her new role-play character, and Logan needs a steady girlfriend to prove his maturity to his boss.
After one night together, they're keen to get on with their respective plans. Except Clare can't understand why her hook-up seems to want to date her, and Logan is confused that Clare isn't responding to his flirting.
A kiss in the rain might clear up any confusion over their chemistry, but this whole 'relationship' thing is a two-player game, and both want to win. With their hearts and their pride on the line, could the prize be love?
Clare Thompson doesn't do casual.
What could possibly bring them together?
Finance bro Logan and tabletop game designer Clare couldn't be more different. They know this because their apartments face each other, and they've noticed. But not, you know, in a creepy way.
Still, when they get stuck in the elevator together, sparks fly and they each see an opportunity: Clare needs her co-workers to believe that she is capable of a one-night stand to get them to buy into her new role-play character, and Logan needs a steady girlfriend to prove his maturity to his boss.
After one night together, they're keen to get on with their respective plans. Except Clare can't understand why her hook-up seems to want to date her, and Logan is confused that Clare isn't responding to his flirting.
A kiss in the rain might clear up any confusion over their chemistry, but this whole 'relationship' thing is a two-player game, and both want to win. With their hearts and their pride on the line, could the prize be love?
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
September 24, 2022
4 STARS
This was such great read!It's a quick, heartwarming, sweet story.Logan and Clare were great together I loved the way they met and how thigs turned out for them.
They might be different from each other yet, they have a great conection.I loved them they were funny and flirty plus they have some steamy moments.
The Player Next Door was captivating, fast paced and sweet.
This was such great read!It's a quick, heartwarming, sweet story.Logan and Clare were great together I loved the way they met and how thigs turned out for them.
They might be different from each other yet, they have a great conection.I loved them they were funny and flirty plus they have some steamy moments.
The Player Next Door was captivating, fast paced and sweet.
October 3, 2022
3.75⭑
Tropes;
One Night Stand
Friends to Lovers
Guy Falls First
Reformed Player
Third Person
Dual POV
Clare and Logan are complete opposites. Logan is a player and doesn’t do relationships. Clare can never do casual one night stands.
After both being told separately by their work, that they, in Logan’s case, needs to settle down and, in Clare’s case, needs to live a little. They decide to look for the opposite of what they usually go for. So what happens after they get stuck in the elevator?
Things I liked;
- the whole ‘how to lose a guy in ten days” feel this book had
- strong female friendships <3
- good relationship development from one night stand to friends to lovers
- he painted her toenails when she was in hospital recovering from appendicitis 🥹
- guy falls first will always be my favourite, the pining was just too good
- it has the perfect amount of medium slow burn (we all know I’m an insta love HATER)
- they had phone sex while watching each other from their neighbouring windows hehehehhehehhehe I was giggling 🤭
Things I disliked;
- bit of a slow start compared to I Love You, I Hated You (written by the same author) which drew me in immediately whereas this book didn’t.
- the third act breakup went on for a bit too long and had no satisfying resolution to their break up; ie there was no grovelling from either main character? WHY?! I love a good grovelling scene!
- sexist and misogynistic AF work boss; I don’t like reading about toxic workplaces
Thank you NetGalley & Headline Eternal for sending my an early copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Tropes;
One Night Stand
Friends to Lovers
Guy Falls First
Reformed Player
Third Person
Dual POV
Clare and Logan are complete opposites. Logan is a player and doesn’t do relationships. Clare can never do casual one night stands.
After both being told separately by their work, that they, in Logan’s case, needs to settle down and, in Clare’s case, needs to live a little. They decide to look for the opposite of what they usually go for. So what happens after they get stuck in the elevator?
Things I liked;
- the whole ‘how to lose a guy in ten days” feel this book had
- strong female friendships <3
- good relationship development from one night stand to friends to lovers
- he painted her toenails when she was in hospital recovering from appendicitis 🥹
- guy falls first will always be my favourite, the pining was just too good
- it has the perfect amount of medium slow burn (we all know I’m an insta love HATER)
- they had phone sex while watching each other from their neighbouring windows hehehehhehehhehe I was giggling 🤭
Things I disliked;
- bit of a slow start compared to I Love You, I Hated You (written by the same author) which drew me in immediately whereas this book didn’t.
- the third act breakup went on for a bit too long and had no satisfying resolution to their break up; ie there was no grovelling from either main character? WHY?! I love a good grovelling scene!
- sexist and misogynistic AF work boss; I don’t like reading about toxic workplaces
Thank you NetGalley & Headline Eternal for sending my an early copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
November 19, 2023
4/5
Мені сподобалося, я буквально проковтнула, цю книгу і насолоджувалася кожною сторінкою ( ну майже кожною😅).
По перше тут цікаві тропи: від інтрижки до дружби, а потім до кохання. По друге, незвичний сюжет.
Клер потрібно показати начальнику, що вона здатна на одноразові зв'язки, Логану, натомість, навпаки - довести, що він може мати серйозні стосунки і постійну дівчину. В кожного на кону стоїть робота і кожен переслідує свої цілі.
Мені сподобалося, що тут не було кохання з першого погляду (з першої ночі точніше😂). Дуже гарно показаний розвиток відносин головних героїв, як вони проводили час разом, дізнавалися інтереси, хобі один одного, ділилися своїми переживаннями, знайомилися з друзями один одного, фліртували, але трималися в межах дружби, в той же час поступово закохувалися. А оцей момент усвідомлення, що ти закохався в іншу людину, то взагалі 😍😍😍.
Сподобалося як Логан з кожною сторінкою розкривався все більше, якщо на початку книги, він постає таким собі ловеласом, то згодом - людиною, що тонко відчуває емоції інших і вміє підлаштовуватися під них, чоловіком занадто самовпевненим, але в той же час невпевненим в тому, що він може подобатися комусь настільки, щоб хотіти з ним довготривалих стосунків, а не лише сексу.
А Клер просто класна, вона не ідеальна, але вона щира, весела і співчутлива.
В якийсь момент, я подумала, що тут навіть драми не буде, але ні. І так, я розуміла вчинки героїв в той момент, здавалося логічним що всі ті емоції колись вибухнуть. Але мені не сподобалася подальша поведінка Логана, потім звісно все було добре, але негативний відтінок залишився, тому це 4, а не 5
P.S Після першої їхньої ночі я подумала, що тут повністю closed door. Але ні, щось посередині: не зовсім closed, але й не сильно open😅 Або то я вже відвертих сцен начиталася😂😂
Мені сподобалося, я буквально проковтнула, цю книгу і насолоджувалася кожною сторінкою ( ну майже кожною😅).
По перше тут цікаві тропи: від інтрижки до дружби, а потім до кохання. По друге, незвичний сюжет.
Клер потрібно показати начальнику, що вона здатна на одноразові зв'язки, Логану, натомість, навпаки - довести, що він може мати серйозні стосунки і постійну дівчину. В кожного на кону стоїть робота і кожен переслідує свої цілі.
Мені сподобалося, що тут не було кохання з першого погляду (з першої ночі точніше😂). Дуже гарно показаний розвиток відносин головних героїв, як вони проводили час разом, дізнавалися інтереси, хобі один одного, ділилися своїми переживаннями, знайомилися з друзями один одного, фліртували, але трималися в межах дружби, в той же час поступово закохувалися. А оцей момент усвідомлення, що ти закохався в іншу людину, то взагалі 😍😍😍.
Сподобалося як Логан з кожною сторінкою розкривався все більше, якщо на початку книги, він постає таким собі ловеласом, то згодом - людиною, що тонко відчуває емоції інших і вміє підлаштовуватися під них, чоловіком занадто самовпевненим, але в той же час невпевненим в тому, що він може подобатися комусь настільки, щоб хотіти з ним довготривалих стосунків, а не лише сексу.
А Клер просто класна, вона не ідеальна, але вона щира, весела і співчутлива.
В якийсь момент, я подумала, що тут навіть драми не буде, але ні. І так, я розуміла вчинки героїв в той момент, здавалося логічним що всі ті емоції колись вибухнуть. Але мені не сподобалася подальша поведінка Логана, потім звісно все було добре, але негативний відтінок залишився, тому це 4, а не 5
P.S Після першої їхньої ночі я подумала, що тут повністю closed door. Але ні, щось посередині: не зовсім closed, але й не сильно open😅 Або то я вже відвертих сцен начиталася😂😂
October 14, 2022
i cannot get this book out of my mind after reading it, it was amazing. when i first began it, i wasn't all too sure about it and wouldn't have said i was completely hooked by the first pages, but after around 30 pages or so, that feeling went away and i couldn't put the book down! the characters are hilarious and sweet, with flaws just like
anyone else, but in the end together created a beautiful story between two polar opposites. the plot was strong with the pace of the book comfortably even throughout, and it's definitely a read in one sitting book! and we can't miss out the star of the show kiki the dog who started their entire interaction! this book was hilarious, with
some social and workplace justice taking place, drama, and love intertwined to create a masterful plot that sells an amazing story (with some beautiful smut might i add)! overall i loved this book and can’t wait to check out more of elizabeth’s work!
thank you to elizabeth david, netgalley, and headline eternal for the early release physical copy and ebook version of this read!
anyone else, but in the end together created a beautiful story between two polar opposites. the plot was strong with the pace of the book comfortably even throughout, and it's definitely a read in one sitting book! and we can't miss out the star of the show kiki the dog who started their entire interaction! this book was hilarious, with
some social and workplace justice taking place, drama, and love intertwined to create a masterful plot that sells an amazing story (with some beautiful smut might i add)! overall i loved this book and can’t wait to check out more of elizabeth’s work!
thank you to elizabeth david, netgalley, and headline eternal for the early release physical copy and ebook version of this read!
October 21, 2023
Elizabeth Davis’ talent with flirtatious banter is so huge it makes me ANGRY. That, plus some truly excellent character work with the much-more-than-he-seems “player” Logan, plus the genuine affection Davis clearly has for all of her characters, makes this a delightfully unforgettable story. (Plus I love how much affection she clearly has for Minneapolis).
January 31, 2023
This book was okay, but a couple of things niggled at me a lot:
1) I really wish people were better at writing "nerd" characters. The nerdy heroine in this is just as much a caricature as any I've read — she likes tabletop gaming, she works for a tabletop gaming company, she has a "Galadriel for President" shirt, she has a "The North Remembers" apron ... like, most nerds I know just love their nerdy things and live their lives. They don't broadcast to the world constantly that they are Nerds.
And in turn, the heroine being so deeply tied to her nerd-dom makes her come across as VERY not-like-other-girls. She's constantly talking about how guys like Logan could never be with girls like her, and though there aren't references that made me Uncomfortable (TM), there were enough comparisons in the text between her and the "girls that Logan usually dates" (ie, tall, blonde, skinny, conventionally attractive) that made the generally self-aware text come across like it had this huge blind spot. Because at the end of the day, the author was still pitting One Type of Woman against Another Type of Woman.
2) YMMV on this one because it felt so ambiguous to me, but I just didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters. The banter was great — you can tell the author is good at dialogue — but somehow the characters just never transcended flirtation for me. I think this was a pitfall of the writing, which felt kind of forced and something I had a hard time connecting with.
3) The trope being pushed in this book is a 'fake dating' one, but it was kinda fake dating in that neither party knows that they're being faked, which was ... hmm. I just don't know that that worked for me. I think the trope label does a disservice to this story because I kind of feel that fake dating needs to be agreed upon by all parties, and without that, you've just got two people concealing motivations to each other, and that's just the worst kind of conflict IMO.
--
I will say, however, that I really loved the Logan character. You don't often read bro-types in contemporary romance, and his growth arc was very satisfying — examining why he feels the need to live up to this stereotype, how it doesn't really work for him anymore, and why the people he's associated with are actually not worth the time. I always like it when books have their characters examine whether or not they've outgrown the lives they used to lead.
1) I really wish people were better at writing "nerd" characters. The nerdy heroine in this is just as much a caricature as any I've read — she likes tabletop gaming, she works for a tabletop gaming company, she has a "Galadriel for President" shirt, she has a "The North Remembers" apron ... like, most nerds I know just love their nerdy things and live their lives. They don't broadcast to the world constantly that they are Nerds.
And in turn, the heroine being so deeply tied to her nerd-dom makes her come across as VERY not-like-other-girls. She's constantly talking about how guys like Logan could never be with girls like her, and though there aren't references that made me Uncomfortable (TM), there were enough comparisons in the text between her and the "girls that Logan usually dates" (ie, tall, blonde, skinny, conventionally attractive) that made the generally self-aware text come across like it had this huge blind spot. Because at the end of the day, the author was still pitting One Type of Woman against Another Type of Woman.
2) YMMV on this one because it felt so ambiguous to me, but I just didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters. The banter was great — you can tell the author is good at dialogue — but somehow the characters just never transcended flirtation for me. I think this was a pitfall of the writing, which felt kind of forced and something I had a hard time connecting with.
3) The trope being pushed in this book is a 'fake dating' one, but it was kinda fake dating in that neither party knows that they're being faked, which was ... hmm. I just don't know that that worked for me. I think the trope label does a disservice to this story because I kind of feel that fake dating needs to be agreed upon by all parties, and without that, you've just got two people concealing motivations to each other, and that's just the worst kind of conflict IMO.
--
I will say, however, that I really loved the Logan character. You don't often read bro-types in contemporary romance, and his growth arc was very satisfying — examining why he feels the need to live up to this stereotype, how it doesn't really work for him anymore, and why the people he's associated with are actually not worth the time. I always like it when books have their characters examine whether or not they've outgrown the lives they used to lead.
October 15, 2022
4.5/5
He’s a player and she’s a relationship girl. Logan needs to prove to his boss that he can be in a committed relationship, and Clare needs to prove to hers that she can handle a one-night stand. A moment in an elevator makes them realise they can get exactly what they need from the other, only they both need different things.
I loved this! The chemistry between Logan and Clare had me hooked, and I will admit that even as a reader I fell for Logan’s charm. I loved the interaction between Clare, Logan and the side characters. This was an easy read, and just what I needed. This book had cute lines, all the feels and just enough drama. 100% recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Eternal for this ARC.
He’s a player and she’s a relationship girl. Logan needs to prove to his boss that he can be in a committed relationship, and Clare needs to prove to hers that she can handle a one-night stand. A moment in an elevator makes them realise they can get exactly what they need from the other, only they both need different things.
I loved this! The chemistry between Logan and Clare had me hooked, and I will admit that even as a reader I fell for Logan’s charm. I loved the interaction between Clare, Logan and the side characters. This was an easy read, and just what I needed. This book had cute lines, all the feels and just enough drama. 100% recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Eternal for this ARC.
October 2, 2022
This book was an okay read. I loved the premise and was really looking forward to reading, however it just felt very flat. I struggled to develop any connection to the characters and storyline. Clare spent too much time on internal monologues and Logan's character kept feeling really incomplete.
Overall, I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would.
Thank you to the publisher for kindly providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Overall, I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would.
Thank you to the publisher for kindly providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 5, 2022
The perfect rom com between two complete opposites
I adore boy falls first kinda books and this one did not disappoint. He's adorable, charming and if I walked past him in the hallway, I wouldn't say no.
Clare is sweet, nerdy and totally relateable. I loved the strong female relationships that take place, it added to the story without taking over.
My only issue was the third act breakup lasted too long for me, but even the makeup was adorablely them.
Thankyou Headline and NetGalley for the ARC and a #gifted copy for your book tour 🤍
I adore boy falls first kinda books and this one did not disappoint. He's adorable, charming and if I walked past him in the hallway, I wouldn't say no.
Clare is sweet, nerdy and totally relateable. I loved the strong female relationships that take place, it added to the story without taking over.
My only issue was the third act breakup lasted too long for me, but even the makeup was adorablely them.
Thankyou Headline and NetGalley for the ARC and a #gifted copy for your book tour 🤍
August 7, 2024
Davis writes some great friend banter which shows up throughout this book. Some of it between the main couple hut also between them and their friends individually giving a better sense of who they are and how they bring out the ability to be themselves with each other. Quick read that draws you in and gets you invested in the couple watching for potential traps they’ll fall into or avoid. Gotta love the Minneapolis references!
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
June 11, 2023Zero chemistry. So long.
November 9, 2022
From neighbours to more!
Main characters Clare and Logan are the complete opposite. From watching his parade of women through the window of watching him go down on them whilst she is working away on her Quest game. I have to be honest if you are a big gamer you are used to the terms and just the style of how Clare’s chapters are written.
I really did appreciate elements such as friendships within this even for Logan, a player who is still friends with everyone he has slept with mostly.
However it did have a very slow pace throughout without much enticing me to read faster personally.
The contract between characters I really did appreciate as one does flings and the other does the complete opposite.
Watching the development between the two characters was very interesting. Apart from the whole sexism that men can enjoy casual relationships whereas women can’t. Whereas, in reality both obviously can.
It was a cute read from opposites to understanding each other.
Review: https://clife.blog/2022/11/10/book-re...
Main characters Clare and Logan are the complete opposite. From watching his parade of women through the window of watching him go down on them whilst she is working away on her Quest game. I have to be honest if you are a big gamer you are used to the terms and just the style of how Clare’s chapters are written.
I really did appreciate elements such as friendships within this even for Logan, a player who is still friends with everyone he has slept with mostly.
However it did have a very slow pace throughout without much enticing me to read faster personally.
The contract between characters I really did appreciate as one does flings and the other does the complete opposite.
Watching the development between the two characters was very interesting. Apart from the whole sexism that men can enjoy casual relationships whereas women can’t. Whereas, in reality both obviously can.
It was a cute read from opposites to understanding each other.
Review: https://clife.blog/2022/11/10/book-re...
December 15, 2022
Big yes from me 🥹🫶🏻
I thoroughly enjoyed Clare and Logan’s relationship develop from barely knowing one another to falling madly in love with each other. It was funny, it was sexy, it was emotional and raw at times and it was basically everything I missed in my previous romance book.
The only really annoying thing was the reasoning behind Clare and Logan dating in the first place. Especially Clare‘s situation.
I‘m very certain there are those types of bosses out there, especially in a men dominated field like gaming and game design, who will give those advices and treatment like Craig did to Clare. I guess it’s just me being mad at Clare for not standing up for herself once she was given that „assignment“. She did eventually, but like..do that before all of the mess.
Fuck that.
Anyway, good book. Definitely recommend. Would also love to read more from that author.
I thoroughly enjoyed Clare and Logan’s relationship develop from barely knowing one another to falling madly in love with each other. It was funny, it was sexy, it was emotional and raw at times and it was basically everything I missed in my previous romance book.
The only really annoying thing was the reasoning behind Clare and Logan dating in the first place. Especially Clare‘s situation.
I‘m very certain there are those types of bosses out there, especially in a men dominated field like gaming and game design, who will give those advices and treatment like Craig did to Clare. I guess it’s just me being mad at Clare for not standing up for herself once she was given that „assignment“. She did eventually, but like..do that before all of the mess.
Fuck that.
Anyway, good book. Definitely recommend. Would also love to read more from that author.
April 27, 2023
... I'm being nice and rounding up.
It was a little frustrating because neither character was honest about their motivations for getting together for a HOT second and honestly, the conflict was completely blown out of proportion because it took so long. It wasn't even cute or sad and making me want then to get back together, I was just tired.
The worst past about this is that I read over 200 pages and this girl still didn't know a) what a creep her boss is and b) that her job and the people in it suck, and that c) she honestly could have quit or asked to transfer to another department because I was sick and tired of all the stuff she went through. At first, I was with her, and it kept going and the red flags were everywhere and still she came up with excuses.
It was a little frustrating because neither character was honest about their motivations for getting together for a HOT second and honestly, the conflict was completely blown out of proportion because it took so long. It wasn't even cute or sad and making me want then to get back together, I was just tired.
The worst past about this is that I read over 200 pages and this girl still didn't know a) what a creep her boss is and b) that her job and the people in it suck, and that c) she honestly could have quit or asked to transfer to another department because I was sick and tired of all the stuff she went through. At first, I was with her, and it kept going and the red flags were everywhere and still she came up with excuses.
January 29, 2023
3.5 stars!
I was hoping to love this one just as much as I Love You, I Hate You. However, it took me a bit to get into the story and connect with the characters. It got better towards the middle and I really liked watching the friendship grow and the relationship develop despite the characters’ apparent differences. There were some parts towards the end that I didn’t fully understand (the WHY of how things transpired) and I think certain things could’ve been resolved a little sooner. But overall this was a quick read with a heart-warming story.
I was hoping to love this one just as much as I Love You, I Hate You. However, it took me a bit to get into the story and connect with the characters. It got better towards the middle and I really liked watching the friendship grow and the relationship develop despite the characters’ apparent differences. There were some parts towards the end that I didn’t fully understand (the WHY of how things transpired) and I think certain things could’ve been resolved a little sooner. But overall this was a quick read with a heart-warming story.
April 11, 2023
3.5 stars. This was a little bit of a mixed bag for me and a lot of it probably came down to the characters being realistic early twenty-somethings and that not being my bag. It did do some really interesting things and I loved how developed Logan’s character was and that he wasn’t just a one note pretty boy player but a person with real insecurities and hangups. I also really loved that Claire wasn’t a one-note nerd character.
CWs: misogyny, sexism, and harassment in the workplace; late parent (not recent)
CWs: misogyny, sexism, and harassment in the workplace; late parent (not recent)
June 9, 2024
I would give this a 3.5 if I could. It was very predictable, but cute. It was honestly a nice, easy read after my last book. It was fun that it was set in Minneapolis so I recognized the places they were talking about. It was a little odd that the conflict all happened in the last 50 pages. And the actual conflict seemed silly in my opinion. But the characters were fun!
July 27, 2023
The start was interesting enough and the story cute-ish but as a whole I didn’t really enjoy it. That could easily be because of the reading mood I’m in right now, but I found myself skim reading multiple pages at a time in order to just get through the book and be done with it. Unhealthy work relationship with a controlling boss had me very frustrated and a bit annoyed with the main character and that she didn’t do anything about it.
September 8, 2024
I liked the writing and the premise I just needed more from the plot, it was too predictable
October 16, 2022
3.5 !!!!
te amo Claire que cocina para no estresarse, juega D&D justo como en stranger things pero con otro nombre es chiquita, cute y pasea perros y se saca fotos con ellos cuando está triste
te amo Logan que llora porque ama mucho a Claire y tiene miedo de perderla once a hooker not anymore
Vivien en deptos enfrentados y se miran por la ventana
la de el da a su cocina y sabe que ella cocina cosas dulces siempre juega solo a adivinar que es lo que hace y cuando cierto tiempo paso se asoma a la ventana a ver si lo que el sospecho fue horneado
ella puede verlo a el cuando trae mujeres todos los fines de semana, sabe que es hermoso y exitoso, inalcanzable para ella pero esta bien, no le molesta.
se quedan atascados en el elevador, terminan teniendo una conversación fluida el descubre que ella es divertida, pasan a los besos y ____ una cosa llevo a la otra y ahora son amigos, ven películas juntos, se cuentan cosas, pasan la noche en la terraza hablando, el la lleva a ver a su padre, se besan, se mienten, mentiras sobre ellos su relación, lo que aparentan y lo que son, están juntos, se divierten, el la CUIDA, ella TAMBIÉN, todo va bien hasta que se lastiman los dos sin quererlo, el la ama y metió la pata, ella siente cosas por el pero no lucha por sus sentimientos, se alejan, se extrañan, están juntos a las apuradas, quedan peor, vuelven a extrañarse, intentar avanzar con otras personas, terminan interrumpiendo la cita el uno del otro, los "otros" ven que su historia claramente sigue latente y se van solos y los dejan a ellos a que se maten o amen, lo que mejor les vengan, terminan juntos, relación impensada, un año, adoptan un perro, el vuelve a dibujar, comparten amigos, son felices.
mis hijos 💌
🏃 Logan held up the nail polish. “Did you want to use this? I can go give it back to Jamie, if you don’t.”
Clare almost never painted her fingernails, although not for any real reason. She liked dressing up and being cute, but nail polish was just one extra thing she never really got into. But the color was a pretty turquoise and Logan seemed to want to hang around, so she nodded. “Sure, why not. Not sure I can bend to reach my feet, though.”
Logan cracked open the top. “I’ll do it,” he offered.
“Have you ever done someone’s nails before?”
“How hard can it be? It’s like painting a very tiny wall.”
“The difficulty is in the tininess, not the skill level.”
“Whatever, I’ve got this,” he said, deftly flipping up the blanket and carefully sliding off the grey, fluffy socks they had given her before surgery. He picked up her left foot delicately, lifting it slightly closer to him.
🏃Clare bit back the sharp inhale she wanted to take. Even post-op, full of painkillers that dulled her senses to a grey, formless blob, his light touch sent sparks across her skin. A tiny, cool brushstroke tickled her cuticle, and she made herself tease him instead. “Oops, looks like you already screwed up,” she said.
He looked up at her, eyes dark, and she realized she had made a grave miscalculation. Now, he wasn’t just holding her foot, he was holding her foot and gazing at her and all she wanted to do was kiss him. But she had been dry-heaving in his car just a few hours ago, and she was currently in a hospital gown that resembled a tent. Meanwhile, Logan looked like he was auditioning for the role of McDreamy’s younger, hotter brother. He would be a perfect character on one of those shows, breaking hearts and saving lives, and—
“Clare?” he said, with a slight air of impatience.
“Hmm?”
“I said, since you’re here overnight, did you want me to run back to your place and get you anything? Or I could call a friend; have them do it.”
🏃No, she’s asleep for sure, but she’d understand. If you wanted to get going, you can. I’m seriously fine, you don’t need to babysit me if you don’t want to. I’m sure you’d rather be home.”
Logan lowered his gaze to her foot, moving to her next toe as he delicately skimmed the brush down her nail. “Who said anything about me wanting to go? I just thought you might be more comfortable with a friend here.”
“Aren’t you a friend?” The words were out of her mouth before she could second-guess them.
He paused. “A friend, yeah.”
“Logan—”
“No, I get it,” he said. “You’ve been pretty clear I’m just a friend.”
The hint of bitterness in his voice took her aback.
(...)
🏃 Clare bit her lip, considering her words carefully. “Friend is a good word, though,” she said, her eyes on the top of his head as he pulled the brush down the nail on her middle toe. “I care about my friends.” When he didn’t look up, she kept going. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
“You didn’t hurt me,” he said flatly, moving to the next toe. “I get it.” Clare didn’t think he did get it, actually, but his tone was final. Logan looked up, his face clearing. “Let me finish your other foot, then I can run back and get your stuff. I assume you need your glasses?”
“How did you know I wear glasses?” she asked, deciding to follow his lead and act like the previous two minutes hadn’t happened.
Logan feigned an exaggerated squint. “How did you know?” he mimicked. He ducked the light kick she sent his way and clicked his tongue in disappointment. “Don’t go messing up my hard work,” he scolded. He caught her ankle firmly, giving her a brief, hooded look. “Behave,” he said sternly.
Clare stilled and a frisson went down her spine. She licked her lips, nodding. “Proceed,” she said, and he returned to his work, heedless of the storm he had started in her veins.
!!!!!
🏃Clare bit back a grin. “But for real, wouldn’t she want you to show the world what you can do?”
“It’s not like I’m going to be in the MoMa,” he protested. “Or even the Walker.”
“Being in Minnesota’s premier art museum would be awesome, but something doesn’t have to be internationally renowned to be worth it. It could just be a hobby. For fun, not profit.”
Logan leaned into her, his body long and warm next to hers. Warmth blossomed in her veins, and he leaned his temple against hers, his hand coming to rest on her thigh.
“You do things to me, Thompson,” he said in a low voice.
“Good things?” she said, trying to keep the quaver out of her voice.
He lifted his head to look at her, his eyes dark and hooded. “Things I never knew I wanted.”
!!
🏃I like knowing what’s mine.”
Clare’s eyebrows flew up even as a bolt of desire shot through her core. “Excuse me?”
“I’m an only child. Never really mastered the whole ‘sharing’ thing,” he said with a lazy shrug.
“I’m sorry, I’m stuck on this mine thing,” she argued.
“I don’t think you are, actually,” he said softly, catching her chin between his knuckles and tipping her face to his. “I think you like it.”
Clare melted into the kiss, her train of thought completely scrambled. “I do?” she managed.
Logan’s lips moved languidly, tasting her like it was the first time he’d kissed her and he wanted to memorize it. “You do,” he said. There was a rasp in his voice that hadn’t been there before. “I think you like being mine, Clare. You like it when I’m bossy and possessive, and I like that it gets you hot, so deal with it. You belong to me now.”
She found her voice. “Then this is mine,” she said, resting her hand on his heart again before dragging it down to his cock. “This too,” she added, attaching her lips to the side of his throat. Logan groaned and pulled her on top of him, thrusting his hips up as she went.
“Yours,” he agreed, sealing their lips together. “All yours.”
!!!!
🏃He had simply never had feelings for someone and wanted their approval at the same time.
But then he met Clare, and suddenly things mattered. She was smart and funny and kind and good, and Logan wanted to live up to her expectations. He really did. But he wasn’t quite capable of it, so he’d taken the easy way out.
He blew it all up, because that way, at least it was his choice. But that didn’t make it hurt any less, and it certainly didn’t take away the deep self-loathing he was wallowing in these days. And it unfortunately didn’t change the fact that no matter what, he still wanted her. More than wanted; he needed her.
Fine, he loved Clare
🏃Logan finally looked up. “Am I what?”
“Fighting for me.”
“Only if you want me to,” he said, swallowing hard.
She watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down, his jaw clench and unclench. It was her turn to be brave. “I’m sorry I hurt you,” she said. “I screwed up.”
“I did too,” he admitted. “I was feeling guilty and weird about everything, and I lashed out, I guess. And then in the elevator—I thought I could get you out of my system. I was wrong.”
“I still miss you,” she confessed. “I had to close my shades to keep from looking at you.”
“And here I thought it was to keep from having to see me,” Logan said.
“That too. But mostly it was because it hurt to even think about you.” Clare took a tentative step forward. “I should have fought for you, too,” she said, brushing the back of her knuckles against his hand. “I gave up too soon.”
Logan caught her fingers. “I shouldn’t have made fighting necessary,” he said, and brought her fingers to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand. “I really fucked up.”
“Me too. Does that make us even?”
Logan smiled weakly, trapping her hand against his cheek. “I still don’t really know how to do a relationship. And I think you deserve better than having to teach me.”
“How about you let me decide what I deserve?” she said, curling her fingers under his chin and lifting his face to look at her.
🏃Clare leaned down slowly, giving him time to back away, and when he didn’t, she pressed her lips against his in a gentle, quiet kiss. Logan blinked, a tear falling down his cheek, and took her face in his hands, pulling her down onto his lap so he could kiss her again.
It was perfect. There was no other word for kissing Logan, because it felt right and good and warm and wonderful and perfect. Clare couldn’t believe she had tried to convince herself she could move on, because there wasn’t anyone out there who compared to the man kissing her right now.
She pulled back, rubbing her thumb against his cheek. “I love you, Logan Walsh,” she murmured.
Logan smiled, that broad, sparkling smile that made her knees feel weak and her stomach all fluttery, and rested his forehead on hers. “I love you more, Clare Thompson.”
“It’s not a competition,” she protested.
“I still win, though.”
Clare’s laugh died in her throat as he pulled her against him and kissed her again.
🏃Logan looked down at his sketchpad and frowned, erasing his last little bit of work and starting over. Frodo, Clare’s obscenely large rescue mutt, sniffed at his leg and let him scratch his head absently. Hands still gave Logan trouble, so maybe the Amethyst Queen would be conveniently standing behind a cluster of Elfborn instead.
Clare and her friends had finally wrapped up their two-year-long campaign last week, and he wanted to draw them something to commemorate it.
🏃Clare came up behind him and leaned down, wrapping her arms around him and resting her chin on his shoulder. A year ago, just the thought of someone seeing him in the process of drawing would have made him flinch, but now he just rested his hand lightly on her forearm.
“What do you think?” he asked, as she pressed their temples together. Clare smelled like sugar and raspberries today, and he let her scent ground him as she scanned the sketch.
“I love it,” she said, pausing before choosing her words carefully.
🏃Clare agreed. She kissed his cheek and Logan set down his sketch pad, tugging her around the chair to pull her into his lap. “I have to get the tarts out of the oven,” Clare protested half-heartedly.
“How long ago did you put them in?” Logan asked, brushing his nose against hers.
“Five minutes,” she admitted, and twisted to look at the timer on his oven. “Make that seven.”
“Then we’ve got plenty of time,” Logan said, dropping his voice into the register he knew she couldn’t resist.
True to form, Clare squirmed on his lap. “Ten minutes is not plenty of time,” she argued, even as he kissed the side of her neck. “And if I burn the tarts I’m making for your friends and the stupid game—”
Logan pulled his lips from her neck and made a mock-stern face. “Hey now, you agreed,” he scolded. “And besides, Sam and Vince are your friends too now.”
Clare smiled through her eyeroll and slipped her hand under the hem of his T-shirt, scraping her nails lightly across his skin.
God, he loved it when she did that. “And what are we watching today?” he prompted.
“Today’s sport is . . . hockey?” she said, and Logan rewarded her with a lingering kiss behind her ear.
“Very good. And? Who’s playing?”
“Well, I know it’s not one of the teams with a racial slur for their name, at least. And thank god, because—”
“Stop stalling,” he ordered, and she sank her teeth down into her full lower lip. Logan loosened it with his thumb and lifted his eyebrows questioningly.
Clare wrinkled her nose in thought. “The Minnesota Wild,” she said, and he knew it was probably a stab in the dark but he kissed the corner of her jaw anyway. “And . . . the Colorado . . . Mountains? No, Avalanche.”
“Final answer?”
She paused, and then nodded once. “Final answer. Hockey game, featuring the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche.”
Logan curled his hand behind her neck and pulled her in for a deep kiss. He’d never get tired of kissing her, he was sure of that. “Be honest. How much of that was a wild guess?” he asked against her lips.
“How much trouble am I in if I say forty percent?”
“A lot.”
“Then twenty percent,” Clare said triumphantly.
Logan snorted but kissed her anyway.
Life might not be a game, but Logan sure as hell felt like he was winning.
te amo Claire que cocina para no estresarse, juega D&D justo como en stranger things pero con otro nombre es chiquita, cute y pasea perros y se saca fotos con ellos cuando está triste
te amo Logan que llora porque ama mucho a Claire y tiene miedo de perderla once a hooker not anymore
Vivien en deptos enfrentados y se miran por la ventana
la de el da a su cocina y sabe que ella cocina cosas dulces siempre juega solo a adivinar que es lo que hace y cuando cierto tiempo paso se asoma a la ventana a ver si lo que el sospecho fue horneado
ella puede verlo a el cuando trae mujeres todos los fines de semana, sabe que es hermoso y exitoso, inalcanzable para ella pero esta bien, no le molesta.
se quedan atascados en el elevador, terminan teniendo una conversación fluida el descubre que ella es divertida, pasan a los besos y ____ una cosa llevo a la otra y ahora son amigos, ven películas juntos, se cuentan cosas, pasan la noche en la terraza hablando, el la lleva a ver a su padre, se besan, se mienten, mentiras sobre ellos su relación, lo que aparentan y lo que son, están juntos, se divierten, el la CUIDA, ella TAMBIÉN, todo va bien hasta que se lastiman los dos sin quererlo, el la ama y metió la pata, ella siente cosas por el pero no lucha por sus sentimientos, se alejan, se extrañan, están juntos a las apuradas, quedan peor, vuelven a extrañarse, intentar avanzar con otras personas, terminan interrumpiendo la cita el uno del otro, los "otros" ven que su historia claramente sigue latente y se van solos y los dejan a ellos a que se maten o amen, lo que mejor les vengan, terminan juntos, relación impensada, un año, adoptan un perro, el vuelve a dibujar, comparten amigos, son felices.
mis hijos 💌
🏃 Logan held up the nail polish. “Did you want to use this? I can go give it back to Jamie, if you don’t.”
Clare almost never painted her fingernails, although not for any real reason. She liked dressing up and being cute, but nail polish was just one extra thing she never really got into. But the color was a pretty turquoise and Logan seemed to want to hang around, so she nodded. “Sure, why not. Not sure I can bend to reach my feet, though.”
Logan cracked open the top. “I’ll do it,” he offered.
“Have you ever done someone’s nails before?”
“How hard can it be? It’s like painting a very tiny wall.”
“The difficulty is in the tininess, not the skill level.”
“Whatever, I’ve got this,” he said, deftly flipping up the blanket and carefully sliding off the grey, fluffy socks they had given her before surgery. He picked up her left foot delicately, lifting it slightly closer to him.
🏃Clare bit back the sharp inhale she wanted to take. Even post-op, full of painkillers that dulled her senses to a grey, formless blob, his light touch sent sparks across her skin. A tiny, cool brushstroke tickled her cuticle, and she made herself tease him instead. “Oops, looks like you already screwed up,” she said.
He looked up at her, eyes dark, and she realized she had made a grave miscalculation. Now, he wasn’t just holding her foot, he was holding her foot and gazing at her and all she wanted to do was kiss him. But she had been dry-heaving in his car just a few hours ago, and she was currently in a hospital gown that resembled a tent. Meanwhile, Logan looked like he was auditioning for the role of McDreamy’s younger, hotter brother. He would be a perfect character on one of those shows, breaking hearts and saving lives, and—
“Clare?” he said, with a slight air of impatience.
“Hmm?”
“I said, since you’re here overnight, did you want me to run back to your place and get you anything? Or I could call a friend; have them do it.”
🏃No, she’s asleep for sure, but she’d understand. If you wanted to get going, you can. I’m seriously fine, you don’t need to babysit me if you don’t want to. I’m sure you’d rather be home.”
Logan lowered his gaze to her foot, moving to her next toe as he delicately skimmed the brush down her nail. “Who said anything about me wanting to go? I just thought you might be more comfortable with a friend here.”
“Aren’t you a friend?” The words were out of her mouth before she could second-guess them.
He paused. “A friend, yeah.”
“Logan—”
“No, I get it,” he said. “You’ve been pretty clear I’m just a friend.”
The hint of bitterness in his voice took her aback.
(...)
🏃 Clare bit her lip, considering her words carefully. “Friend is a good word, though,” she said, her eyes on the top of his head as he pulled the brush down the nail on her middle toe. “I care about my friends.” When he didn’t look up, she kept going. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
“You didn’t hurt me,” he said flatly, moving to the next toe. “I get it.” Clare didn’t think he did get it, actually, but his tone was final. Logan looked up, his face clearing. “Let me finish your other foot, then I can run back and get your stuff. I assume you need your glasses?”
“How did you know I wear glasses?” she asked, deciding to follow his lead and act like the previous two minutes hadn’t happened.
Logan feigned an exaggerated squint. “How did you know?” he mimicked. He ducked the light kick she sent his way and clicked his tongue in disappointment. “Don’t go messing up my hard work,” he scolded. He caught her ankle firmly, giving her a brief, hooded look. “Behave,” he said sternly.
Clare stilled and a frisson went down her spine. She licked her lips, nodding. “Proceed,” she said, and he returned to his work, heedless of the storm he had started in her veins.
!!!!!
🏃Clare bit back a grin. “But for real, wouldn’t she want you to show the world what you can do?”
“It’s not like I’m going to be in the MoMa,” he protested. “Or even the Walker.”
“Being in Minnesota’s premier art museum would be awesome, but something doesn’t have to be internationally renowned to be worth it. It could just be a hobby. For fun, not profit.”
Logan leaned into her, his body long and warm next to hers. Warmth blossomed in her veins, and he leaned his temple against hers, his hand coming to rest on her thigh.
“You do things to me, Thompson,” he said in a low voice.
“Good things?” she said, trying to keep the quaver out of her voice.
He lifted his head to look at her, his eyes dark and hooded. “Things I never knew I wanted.”
!!
🏃I like knowing what’s mine.”
Clare’s eyebrows flew up even as a bolt of desire shot through her core. “Excuse me?”
“I’m an only child. Never really mastered the whole ‘sharing’ thing,” he said with a lazy shrug.
“I’m sorry, I’m stuck on this mine thing,” she argued.
“I don’t think you are, actually,” he said softly, catching her chin between his knuckles and tipping her face to his. “I think you like it.”
Clare melted into the kiss, her train of thought completely scrambled. “I do?” she managed.
Logan’s lips moved languidly, tasting her like it was the first time he’d kissed her and he wanted to memorize it. “You do,” he said. There was a rasp in his voice that hadn’t been there before. “I think you like being mine, Clare. You like it when I’m bossy and possessive, and I like that it gets you hot, so deal with it. You belong to me now.”
She found her voice. “Then this is mine,” she said, resting her hand on his heart again before dragging it down to his cock. “This too,” she added, attaching her lips to the side of his throat. Logan groaned and pulled her on top of him, thrusting his hips up as she went.
“Yours,” he agreed, sealing their lips together. “All yours.”
!!!!
🏃He had simply never had feelings for someone and wanted their approval at the same time.
But then he met Clare, and suddenly things mattered. She was smart and funny and kind and good, and Logan wanted to live up to her expectations. He really did. But he wasn’t quite capable of it, so he’d taken the easy way out.
He blew it all up, because that way, at least it was his choice. But that didn’t make it hurt any less, and it certainly didn’t take away the deep self-loathing he was wallowing in these days. And it unfortunately didn’t change the fact that no matter what, he still wanted her. More than wanted; he needed her.
Fine, he loved Clare
🏃Logan finally looked up. “Am I what?”
“Fighting for me.”
“Only if you want me to,” he said, swallowing hard.
She watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down, his jaw clench and unclench. It was her turn to be brave. “I’m sorry I hurt you,” she said. “I screwed up.”
“I did too,” he admitted. “I was feeling guilty and weird about everything, and I lashed out, I guess. And then in the elevator—I thought I could get you out of my system. I was wrong.”
“I still miss you,” she confessed. “I had to close my shades to keep from looking at you.”
“And here I thought it was to keep from having to see me,” Logan said.
“That too. But mostly it was because it hurt to even think about you.” Clare took a tentative step forward. “I should have fought for you, too,” she said, brushing the back of her knuckles against his hand. “I gave up too soon.”
Logan caught her fingers. “I shouldn’t have made fighting necessary,” he said, and brought her fingers to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand. “I really fucked up.”
“Me too. Does that make us even?”
Logan smiled weakly, trapping her hand against his cheek. “I still don’t really know how to do a relationship. And I think you deserve better than having to teach me.”
“How about you let me decide what I deserve?” she said, curling her fingers under his chin and lifting his face to look at her.
🏃Clare leaned down slowly, giving him time to back away, and when he didn’t, she pressed her lips against his in a gentle, quiet kiss. Logan blinked, a tear falling down his cheek, and took her face in his hands, pulling her down onto his lap so he could kiss her again.
It was perfect. There was no other word for kissing Logan, because it felt right and good and warm and wonderful and perfect. Clare couldn’t believe she had tried to convince herself she could move on, because there wasn’t anyone out there who compared to the man kissing her right now.
She pulled back, rubbing her thumb against his cheek. “I love you, Logan Walsh,” she murmured.
Logan smiled, that broad, sparkling smile that made her knees feel weak and her stomach all fluttery, and rested his forehead on hers. “I love you more, Clare Thompson.”
“It’s not a competition,” she protested.
“I still win, though.”
Clare’s laugh died in her throat as he pulled her against him and kissed her again.
🏃Logan looked down at his sketchpad and frowned, erasing his last little bit of work and starting over. Frodo, Clare’s obscenely large rescue mutt, sniffed at his leg and let him scratch his head absently. Hands still gave Logan trouble, so maybe the Amethyst Queen would be conveniently standing behind a cluster of Elfborn instead.
Clare and her friends had finally wrapped up their two-year-long campaign last week, and he wanted to draw them something to commemorate it.
🏃Clare came up behind him and leaned down, wrapping her arms around him and resting her chin on his shoulder. A year ago, just the thought of someone seeing him in the process of drawing would have made him flinch, but now he just rested his hand lightly on her forearm.
“What do you think?” he asked, as she pressed their temples together. Clare smelled like sugar and raspberries today, and he let her scent ground him as she scanned the sketch.
“I love it,” she said, pausing before choosing her words carefully.
🏃Clare agreed. She kissed his cheek and Logan set down his sketch pad, tugging her around the chair to pull her into his lap. “I have to get the tarts out of the oven,” Clare protested half-heartedly.
“How long ago did you put them in?” Logan asked, brushing his nose against hers.
“Five minutes,” she admitted, and twisted to look at the timer on his oven. “Make that seven.”
“Then we’ve got plenty of time,” Logan said, dropping his voice into the register he knew she couldn’t resist.
True to form, Clare squirmed on his lap. “Ten minutes is not plenty of time,” she argued, even as he kissed the side of her neck. “And if I burn the tarts I’m making for your friends and the stupid game—”
Logan pulled his lips from her neck and made a mock-stern face. “Hey now, you agreed,” he scolded. “And besides, Sam and Vince are your friends too now.”
Clare smiled through her eyeroll and slipped her hand under the hem of his T-shirt, scraping her nails lightly across his skin.
God, he loved it when she did that. “And what are we watching today?” he prompted.
“Today’s sport is . . . hockey?” she said, and Logan rewarded her with a lingering kiss behind her ear.
“Very good. And? Who’s playing?”
“Well, I know it’s not one of the teams with a racial slur for their name, at least. And thank god, because—”
“Stop stalling,” he ordered, and she sank her teeth down into her full lower lip. Logan loosened it with his thumb and lifted his eyebrows questioningly.
Clare wrinkled her nose in thought. “The Minnesota Wild,” she said, and he knew it was probably a stab in the dark but he kissed the corner of her jaw anyway. “And . . . the Colorado . . . Mountains? No, Avalanche.”
“Final answer?”
She paused, and then nodded once. “Final answer. Hockey game, featuring the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche.”
Logan curled his hand behind her neck and pulled her in for a deep kiss. He’d never get tired of kissing her, he was sure of that. “Be honest. How much of that was a wild guess?” he asked against her lips.
“How much trouble am I in if I say forty percent?”
“A lot.”
“Then twenty percent,” Clare said triumphantly.
Logan snorted but kissed her anyway.
Life might not be a game, but Logan sure as hell felt like he was winning.
May 16, 2024
A fun, flirty and very Minneapolis romance!
October 10, 2022
I adored Elizabeth Davis' debut, 'I Love You, I Hate You,' and her second book has the same warm sunshine prose but now with extra sizzle. (Here I would post a number of eggplant and chili pepper emojis if I were more technologically adept.)
Surprisingly sweet finance bro Logan and nerdy TTRPG-maker Clare have the same problem--nobody takes them seriously. (Logan especially just wants to be a real boy so badly it makes my heart ache). Despite what they initially think, they're so obviously right for each other that Davis had me planning their wedding and naming their dog by the middle of the book, long before any of their shenanigans could catch up to them. Then she had me yelling, which was awkward because I was in the middle seat on a long flight and couldn't start writing this review yet, and I had to resort to texting my friends to make it everyone's problem that Clare and Logan hadn't yet worked out their issues and I was INVESTED IN THEIR HYPOTHETICAL DOG TOGETHER, GUYS.
Anyway, Elizabeth is a master of the romcom plot. I love fake dating, I love nerd/playboy, I love it when people bang to get it out of their systems, just once, never again. Feed me this stuff every day of my life, just cook it like this.
Surprisingly sweet finance bro Logan and nerdy TTRPG-maker Clare have the same problem--nobody takes them seriously. (Logan especially just wants to be a real boy so badly it makes my heart ache). Despite what they initially think, they're so obviously right for each other that Davis had me planning their wedding and naming their dog by the middle of the book, long before any of their shenanigans could catch up to them. Then she had me yelling, which was awkward because I was in the middle seat on a long flight and couldn't start writing this review yet, and I had to resort to texting my friends to make it everyone's problem that Clare and Logan hadn't yet worked out their issues and I was INVESTED IN THEIR HYPOTHETICAL DOG TOGETHER, GUYS.
Anyway, Elizabeth is a master of the romcom plot. I love fake dating, I love nerd/playboy, I love it when people bang to get it out of their systems, just once, never again. Feed me this stuff every day of my life, just cook it like this.
January 21, 2023
I think I have found a new favourite read!
I absolutely loved this book, it was such a heartwarming and humorous rom-com.
I adored both Logan and Clare and found that they were such relatable characters. I also liked a lot of the side characters my favourite being Sam.
I loved the story and felt 2 ways about the book, at times I didn’t want to put it down and then other times I wanted to read it slowly and take my time because I didn’t want it to end because I was enjoying it so much.
A couple of my favourite lines/quotes from the book were:
“but a pack of butterflies had taken up residence in his stomach and showed no sign of leaving."
“everything about Clare had turned him upside down."
I found Logan was just so sweet and I absolutely loved him! (Think I’ve found my first ever book boyfriend 😍)
The writing in this book was so easy to read and flowed so well. I also loved that the chapters were a good length (not too long) as it kept my attention very well. I have already added Elizabeth Davis’ first book to the top of my TBR and plan to read it ASAP.
Thank you to Hedline eternal and NetGalley for the eArc and #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review and thank you to Headline eternal for asking me to take part in the blog tour.
I absolutely loved this book, it was such a heartwarming and humorous rom-com.
I adored both Logan and Clare and found that they were such relatable characters. I also liked a lot of the side characters my favourite being Sam.
I loved the story and felt 2 ways about the book, at times I didn’t want to put it down and then other times I wanted to read it slowly and take my time because I didn’t want it to end because I was enjoying it so much.
A couple of my favourite lines/quotes from the book were:
“but a pack of butterflies had taken up residence in his stomach and showed no sign of leaving."
“everything about Clare had turned him upside down."
I found Logan was just so sweet and I absolutely loved him! (Think I’ve found my first ever book boyfriend 😍)
The writing in this book was so easy to read and flowed so well. I also loved that the chapters were a good length (not too long) as it kept my attention very well. I have already added Elizabeth Davis’ first book to the top of my TBR and plan to read it ASAP.
Thank you to Hedline eternal and NetGalley for the eArc and #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review and thank you to Headline eternal for asking me to take part in the blog tour.
September 27, 2023
Binge read this on my 14 hour flight and it’s the only way I got through it. The characters were so frustrating, had very little chemistry, and made decisions that didn’t make sense. I also found the storyline of Clare’s boss irritating, especially because Clare kept ignoring her friends’ warnings hat Craig was outright sexist and abusive. I found it out of character for her to continuously defend his behavior towards her. Her repeated insistence that her friends would overreact and not “realize he was helping her become a better writer” by asking her to have more sexual experience only made it worse. I think the conversation of workplace abuse is very needed but this missed a lot of the nuances.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2022
This was a cute, but sometimes frustrating read. I liked how Clare and Logan’s relationship developed after their initial hook-up. I felt that they genuinely became friends even with the undercurrent of sexual tension. Logan and his insecurities made me feel for him and I just wanted to smoosh him with love and make him understand he was worth more than just a good time. I am glad Clare could see the real him. I also liked how he challenged her and made her more bold. Clare’s friend group and Sam were great but I hated the Aidens . Clare’s work situation made me rage and I hated how unsure and accommodating she was with Craig when in other areas she seemed so secure and comfortable with herself (although that is probably quite a realistic portrayal of that kind of situation). I wish we had more of a resolution to that storyline ( did she switch teams? Was Craig fired? Did she go for Noah’s job?). I also felt the ending and how things played out between Clare and Logan was a little rushed and they could have gone into more depth with each other about why things blew up the way they did. Overall though it was still a really enjoyable read. (3.5 ⭐️)
October 1, 2022
As soon as I read the book description, I was intrigued. Not only did it sound like my type of book, I loved how original the premise was, and I was not disappointed.
Logan and Clare’s apartments face each other so they’ve seen each other around but it isn’t until they get stuck in the elevator together that sparks start to fly. Not only that, they quickly realise they’ve just found the perfect solution for their problems: Clare needs to prove to her (very creepy) boss she is capable of having a one-night stand in order for him to consider one of her ideas, and Logan needs to show his boss that isn’t just a playboy and can be serious and mature. After spending the night together they put their plans in motion but Logan quickly becomes confused when he finds his flirting isn’t working and Clare can’t understand why Logan seems to want something serious with her. As they start spending more time together, feelings start to grow but they both know that they cannot go much further without coming clean and it seems to get a little bit harder everyday.
Clare was amazing and very relatable. She was sure of herself, creative and so very sweet. I loved how passionate she was about her work and while she definitely struggled at her workplace (which was male-dominated), seeing her fight and find her voice was inspiring. Then we have Logan, who had been through a lot and understandably had been using a sort of mask to hide his true self and protect his feelings for a while; he was incredibly charming, caring and just overall a very nice guy.
They might have though they weren’t a good match; in fact, in the beginning of the book, Clare couldn’t imagine someone like Logan wanting to be with someone like her, but I think that while their lifestyles and hobbies/tastes weren’t that similar, deep down they were much more alike than either of them thought. When they were together, they were the best versions of themselves and I loved seeing that. Logan constantly encouraged Clare to fight for what she wanted and be her true self; similarly, the way Clare treated and cared for him made him feel comfortable enough to be his true self. I think both Logan and Clare had a wrong perception of who they were and being together allowed them to challenge those labels and become more authentic.
I loved seeing their relationship evolve from a simple one-night stand, to friendship, to dating. Their chemistry couldn’t have been clearer, their banter was phenomenal, and the flirting was top-tier. I loved their dynamic from the very first page and I really appreciated the way they dealt with the conflict later on.
Overall, this is was a very well-paced, enjoyable read with great characters and heartwarming scenes that won’t fail to put a smile on your face.
A big thank you to Netgalley and Headline for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
★ 4.5/5 Stars ★
Logan and Clare’s apartments face each other so they’ve seen each other around but it isn’t until they get stuck in the elevator together that sparks start to fly. Not only that, they quickly realise they’ve just found the perfect solution for their problems: Clare needs to prove to her (very creepy) boss she is capable of having a one-night stand in order for him to consider one of her ideas, and Logan needs to show his boss that isn’t just a playboy and can be serious and mature. After spending the night together they put their plans in motion but Logan quickly becomes confused when he finds his flirting isn’t working and Clare can’t understand why Logan seems to want something serious with her. As they start spending more time together, feelings start to grow but they both know that they cannot go much further without coming clean and it seems to get a little bit harder everyday.
Clare was amazing and very relatable. She was sure of herself, creative and so very sweet. I loved how passionate she was about her work and while she definitely struggled at her workplace (which was male-dominated), seeing her fight and find her voice was inspiring. Then we have Logan, who had been through a lot and understandably had been using a sort of mask to hide his true self and protect his feelings for a while; he was incredibly charming, caring and just overall a very nice guy.
They might have though they weren’t a good match; in fact, in the beginning of the book, Clare couldn’t imagine someone like Logan wanting to be with someone like her, but I think that while their lifestyles and hobbies/tastes weren’t that similar, deep down they were much more alike than either of them thought. When they were together, they were the best versions of themselves and I loved seeing that. Logan constantly encouraged Clare to fight for what she wanted and be her true self; similarly, the way Clare treated and cared for him made him feel comfortable enough to be his true self. I think both Logan and Clare had a wrong perception of who they were and being together allowed them to challenge those labels and become more authentic.
I loved seeing their relationship evolve from a simple one-night stand, to friendship, to dating. Their chemistry couldn’t have been clearer, their banter was phenomenal, and the flirting was top-tier. I loved their dynamic from the very first page and I really appreciated the way they dealt with the conflict later on.
Overall, this is was a very well-paced, enjoyable read with great characters and heartwarming scenes that won’t fail to put a smile on your face.
A big thank you to Netgalley and Headline for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
★ 4.5/5 Stars ★
October 6, 2022
The Player Next Door, the second novel from Elizabeth Davis, was such a fun read, but one that also wasn’t afraid to tackle some heavier topics. It’s a brilliant romcom that will have you rooting for its MCs. 4.5 ⭐️
The Player Next Door is the story of Clare and Logan, who beyond living in the same building, couldn’t be more different from one another. Yet when they end up stuck in their building’s lift together sparks begin to fly. They each see this as an opportunity not to be missed. Clare needs to prove to her coworkers she can be impulsive and pull off a one night stand (more on this toxic workplace behaviour later) and Logan needs a girlfriend to prove his steady maturity to a client. Yet as their night of passion comes to an end Clare can’t fathom why her hook up wants to date her and Logan is confused why she’s not responding to his charms. What will happen when their hearts and pride are on the line and they’re each playing to win?
On the romance front this novel is so much fun, you have:
🎲 two great MCs in Clare and Logan, who though very different, compliment each other so well
🏀 brilliant chemistry between our MCs
🎲excellent witty banter and MCs who are sharp and very funny
🏀 a hybrid of friends to lovers/fake dating
🎲he falls first
🏀 a steamy phone scene - their apartments look into each other’s
🎲an amazing scene where the Logan looks after an ill Clare, and which is also one where we learn the heartbreaking reason as to how exactly he knew what was wrong with her
🏀MCs who allow each other to flourish by simply letting them be their authentic selves in each other’s presence
🎲and linked to this MCs who support and encourage each other
🏀a wonderful cast of supporting friends (though not you the Aidens)
This is also a story that isn’t afraid to deal with some more difficult topics, including grief, misogyny and toxic workplace environments. Without wanting to give the plot away I will say that Clare’s boss Craig is a thoroughly bad egg. The environment and treatment that Clare has to deal with at work is appalling, yet Davis handles this subject with great Care. This resolution to this storyline was definitely a whoop moment!
I really enjoyed this book, you become immediately drawn into Clare and Logan’s world and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in their presence.
With thanks to Headline Eternal for my gifted copy in return for my honest review.
The Player Next Door is the story of Clare and Logan, who beyond living in the same building, couldn’t be more different from one another. Yet when they end up stuck in their building’s lift together sparks begin to fly. They each see this as an opportunity not to be missed. Clare needs to prove to her coworkers she can be impulsive and pull off a one night stand (more on this toxic workplace behaviour later) and Logan needs a girlfriend to prove his steady maturity to a client. Yet as their night of passion comes to an end Clare can’t fathom why her hook up wants to date her and Logan is confused why she’s not responding to his charms. What will happen when their hearts and pride are on the line and they’re each playing to win?
On the romance front this novel is so much fun, you have:
🎲 two great MCs in Clare and Logan, who though very different, compliment each other so well
🏀 brilliant chemistry between our MCs
🎲excellent witty banter and MCs who are sharp and very funny
🏀 a hybrid of friends to lovers/fake dating
🎲he falls first
🏀 a steamy phone scene - their apartments look into each other’s
🎲an amazing scene where the Logan looks after an ill Clare, and which is also one where we learn the heartbreaking reason as to how exactly he knew what was wrong with her
🏀MCs who allow each other to flourish by simply letting them be their authentic selves in each other’s presence
🎲and linked to this MCs who support and encourage each other
🏀a wonderful cast of supporting friends (though not you the Aidens)
This is also a story that isn’t afraid to deal with some more difficult topics, including grief, misogyny and toxic workplace environments. Without wanting to give the plot away I will say that Clare’s boss Craig is a thoroughly bad egg. The environment and treatment that Clare has to deal with at work is appalling, yet Davis handles this subject with great Care. This resolution to this storyline was definitely a whoop moment!
I really enjoyed this book, you become immediately drawn into Clare and Logan’s world and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in their presence.
With thanks to Headline Eternal for my gifted copy in return for my honest review.
October 11, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was such a pleasant surprise! I really wasn't sure if this would completely be my cup of tea, just because I'm neither a gamer nor someone who plays a sport in any capacity. I also started off being a bit apprehensive about how Logan and Clare would work together because they seemed to be such different people, as well as having such different outlooks towards relationships and romance. However, I could tell almost immediately that these two were made for each other and I found myself rooting for their success very early on.
I liked the parallel storylines centred around Logan and Clare's work lives, with both of them being told their personal lives were negatively affecting their performances at work, to an extent. Both of their workplaces and colleagues felt accurate in depicting the kind of people they would have to deal with, and it really rang true, unfortunately, that Clare put up with the inappropriate behaviour of her boss for so long before reaching her breaking point, as so many women have experienced in their own places of work. I also appreciated how Davis didn't shy away from portraying Logan in a negative light at times, especially in regard to how he had found himself slipping into avoidant behaviours and socialising with bad influences from work.
I loved reading the interactions between Clare and Logan and genuinely thought they were so cute together. They bounced off each other constantly and had a very natural-feeling connection, despite their differences. They both helped each other become more confident in themselves and at work, stepping out of their comfort zones and realising their respective worths. Any stereotype about the jock falling for the nerdy gamer flew out the window because they both had such respect for each other's interests, rather than any attempt to change them, or an indication that they fell for them despite these differences.
I felt that the development from a one-night stand, to slowly becoming firm friends, to a relationship, was done really well by Davis! It felt very realistic, especially the parts where Logan and Clare were finding their feet in both wanting to spend time with the other but didn't want to come across as too forward. Seeing Logan fall first through the dual narrative was very sweet, as was the fact that this was a bit more of a slow-burner romance than some others I've read recently. I'm definitely interested in reading I Love You, I Hate You by Davis as I've heard good things, and I'll be keeping my eye out for more from her!
This was such a pleasant surprise! I really wasn't sure if this would completely be my cup of tea, just because I'm neither a gamer nor someone who plays a sport in any capacity. I also started off being a bit apprehensive about how Logan and Clare would work together because they seemed to be such different people, as well as having such different outlooks towards relationships and romance. However, I could tell almost immediately that these two were made for each other and I found myself rooting for their success very early on.
I liked the parallel storylines centred around Logan and Clare's work lives, with both of them being told their personal lives were negatively affecting their performances at work, to an extent. Both of their workplaces and colleagues felt accurate in depicting the kind of people they would have to deal with, and it really rang true, unfortunately, that Clare put up with the inappropriate behaviour of her boss for so long before reaching her breaking point, as so many women have experienced in their own places of work. I also appreciated how Davis didn't shy away from portraying Logan in a negative light at times, especially in regard to how he had found himself slipping into avoidant behaviours and socialising with bad influences from work.
I loved reading the interactions between Clare and Logan and genuinely thought they were so cute together. They bounced off each other constantly and had a very natural-feeling connection, despite their differences. They both helped each other become more confident in themselves and at work, stepping out of their comfort zones and realising their respective worths. Any stereotype about the jock falling for the nerdy gamer flew out the window because they both had such respect for each other's interests, rather than any attempt to change them, or an indication that they fell for them despite these differences.
I felt that the development from a one-night stand, to slowly becoming firm friends, to a relationship, was done really well by Davis! It felt very realistic, especially the parts where Logan and Clare were finding their feet in both wanting to spend time with the other but didn't want to come across as too forward. Seeing Logan fall first through the dual narrative was very sweet, as was the fact that this was a bit more of a slow-burner romance than some others I've read recently. I'm definitely interested in reading I Love You, I Hate You by Davis as I've heard good things, and I'll be keeping my eye out for more from her!
September 26, 2022
Logan doesn’t do relationships, and Clare doesn’t do casual; what could possibly bring them together? Work, that’s what. Clare is a tabletop game designer, and Logan works in finance. So how did work bring them together when they don’t even work together?
Logan is a player. He likes sex; he’s hot and can flirt, and by gosh, the man will use his talents to get what he wants. Only his ‘friends’ bragged about their escapades to someone from an opposing firm who started to whisper in one of Logan’s client's ears that he’s an irresponsible man whore. With his biggest client getting twitchy, Logan gets called into a meeting with his boss, who tells him he needs to gain and keep the trust of his clients to stop having such a high turnover rate. What logan takes away from this meeting is that he needs to get a girlfriend to look responsible.
On the other hand, Clare gets told by her creepy boss that to write a character who has casual sex, she needs to get some herself. At this point in the story, Clare thinks her boss is trying to help her reach her full potential. He isn’t. With Clare looking to get some experience and Logan wanting to put his client's mind at ease that he's a responsible family man, the two are pointed directly at each other. When they happen to get stuck together in the elevator to their apparent budling, well, Clare jumps at the chance in front of her.
There was a lot of slut shaming in this book which I didn’t like. Logan is getting treated like he's not responsible or shallow because he likes having casual sex. I don’t see the problem, but it's mentioned a few times, so much that Logan doubts that any woman would want to be with him for anything other than sex.
The relationship development between Clare and Logan was enjoyable. Their one night turned friendship turned dating was a great way of getting the characters to get to know each other and dig into their thought and feelings. There is a third act break up, and as much as I hate them because they can always be solved by talking, it did bruise my heart and give me the feels. I was happy to see both Clare and Logan get their HEA.
Logan is a player. He likes sex; he’s hot and can flirt, and by gosh, the man will use his talents to get what he wants. Only his ‘friends’ bragged about their escapades to someone from an opposing firm who started to whisper in one of Logan’s client's ears that he’s an irresponsible man whore. With his biggest client getting twitchy, Logan gets called into a meeting with his boss, who tells him he needs to gain and keep the trust of his clients to stop having such a high turnover rate. What logan takes away from this meeting is that he needs to get a girlfriend to look responsible.
On the other hand, Clare gets told by her creepy boss that to write a character who has casual sex, she needs to get some herself. At this point in the story, Clare thinks her boss is trying to help her reach her full potential. He isn’t. With Clare looking to get some experience and Logan wanting to put his client's mind at ease that he's a responsible family man, the two are pointed directly at each other. When they happen to get stuck together in the elevator to their apparent budling, well, Clare jumps at the chance in front of her.
There was a lot of slut shaming in this book which I didn’t like. Logan is getting treated like he's not responsible or shallow because he likes having casual sex. I don’t see the problem, but it's mentioned a few times, so much that Logan doubts that any woman would want to be with him for anything other than sex.
The relationship development between Clare and Logan was enjoyable. Their one night turned friendship turned dating was a great way of getting the characters to get to know each other and dig into their thought and feelings. There is a third act break up, and as much as I hate them because they can always be solved by talking, it did bruise my heart and give me the feels. I was happy to see both Clare and Logan get their HEA.
October 11, 2022
The Player Next Door was a really fun read in terms of the romance while also touching on more serious issues like sexism and harassment in the workplace. Don’t worry, it’s still very much a romcom so everything turns out ok in the end.
Main characters Clare and Logan live in the same building and are both having trouble at work. Logan is a finance manager and has to prove to a super traditional client that thinks everyone should share his ‘family values’ that he’s settled and has a girlfriend because if Logan looses this client he’ll be fired. Clare is a tabletop game designer and the only woman on her team. She has to prove to her gross boss that she can have a one night stand so that he’ll let her pitch the new character and storyline for the game she came up with. Logan and Clare have a one night stand but now want different things and when feelings start getting involved it gets messy.
I enjoyed both Clare and Logan’s POVs and character growth and I think the backstory for both characters was woven in really well and helped us see where their present day insecurities come from. I absolutely loved the scenes of Clare playing the board game with her friendship group and think the game storylines and the character’s reactions to these added a wonderful layer to the book. I would have liked to have seen Clare and Logan’s work life included in the epilogue just because it was such a large part of the motivation for both of them in the rest of the book. I liked that Logan’s best friend was female, their scenes were great and I enjoyed seeing her budding friendship with Clare too.
Read for:
• Opposites attract
• One night stand, to friends, to lovers ❤️
• Getting stuck in a lift together
• Board game quests
• A cute doggo 🐾
• Standing up to sexism in the workplace
Rating: 4/5🌟
Steam Level: 2.5/5🔥
Main characters Clare and Logan live in the same building and are both having trouble at work. Logan is a finance manager and has to prove to a super traditional client that thinks everyone should share his ‘family values’ that he’s settled and has a girlfriend because if Logan looses this client he’ll be fired. Clare is a tabletop game designer and the only woman on her team. She has to prove to her gross boss that she can have a one night stand so that he’ll let her pitch the new character and storyline for the game she came up with. Logan and Clare have a one night stand but now want different things and when feelings start getting involved it gets messy.
I enjoyed both Clare and Logan’s POVs and character growth and I think the backstory for both characters was woven in really well and helped us see where their present day insecurities come from. I absolutely loved the scenes of Clare playing the board game with her friendship group and think the game storylines and the character’s reactions to these added a wonderful layer to the book. I would have liked to have seen Clare and Logan’s work life included in the epilogue just because it was such a large part of the motivation for both of them in the rest of the book. I liked that Logan’s best friend was female, their scenes were great and I enjoyed seeing her budding friendship with Clare too.
Read for:
• Opposites attract
• One night stand, to friends, to lovers ❤️
• Getting stuck in a lift together
• Board game quests
• A cute doggo 🐾
• Standing up to sexism in the workplace
Rating: 4/5🌟
Steam Level: 2.5/5🔥
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews